New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-11-01
THE DRAMA
MRS. POTTER.

| able custom of the American audience an audiera
always wshfu that every essayist In public life my
succeed who prompted by worthy ambition, makes,n
earnest effort good field The local sentiment towsd
Mrs Potter, furthermore, has ali along been generay
propitous 1t was not surprising. accordingly Ter
frat upon the should have been haild
with prOlgious outburst OF applause; that paud.,
often given to her in the course OF the no
resentaOn; and that her audience endeayocd by evey
within its power to signify for this beginner e
cordially of Il sincere welcome and the enthusiasm I
| feryent good wishes
When YOU wish to show picture you must put Il ino
appropriate frame and hang it in a conspicuous
place. Many good work of has failed to obtain 10
mcrted reward of public recognition for want of essen
tal aud authoritative publicity. The turbulent. agges
svc expeditions spirit OF this seething, rOngii-and
tumble age has, it would consideration what.
for modest merit The world Will not seek you out
You arrest its attention WITH fireworks you sill
arrest 1t at all. Mrs Potter seems 10 have been
of this truth At ail events she has either man
aged with practical worldly >asacty
she has had. in this respect uncommon degree Of
worldly good fortune. Not many months This lady
70 the general public utterly unknown: while 80
small section of this community she was Only known a. A
handsome woman, much addicted 10 The mild lanacy of
amateur theatricals. With this restricted amt trivial
field she content. she believed hclscii to be
capable OF better things She determined 10 visit
England to enlist social aid of royalty and fashion
and to make "A professional venture upon the London
stase-wc knowing that the echo 81 distant explosion
attracts more notice than ordinary report nearer
home This determination fulfilled. The Atlantic
cable and the foreign CORE ponden straghtway began
20 record and discuss her proceedings; the press Of her
native land literally contributed to the debate; and
within brief period her and her rrecn,iOns wcrs
bruited throughout America. This was not the most
dlgi8ed nor the most delicate Nay in which To capture
tie public attention. but it was the essentially practical
way which favored. if lot enforced. by the tone Of
IL. dot
sble, reputation! In other way could Mrs Potter
have elned speedily and certainly. the American
notice that she DESTROYS 10 compel. A player
amateur hcaica.s might 20 on forever without obtain
ing either professional rank serious consideration.
The of Mrs Potters ambition vas 70 be viewed and
ia a real actor; and 1t her desire u elicit this
Judgment from her own people. British audcncc-as
history Of the British theatre aDundanty proves.
toward all ,asPiranis. "A hostile audience. Charles
Lamb we.-knOwn verdict upon a stranger: " don't
know him. but-damn him. at 4 venture quite aptyey-
presses the general attitude AMI tone OF tho British
mind IN such cases Mrs. PoterS comparative failure
in Lonlon-and such failure, undoubtedly, II was
signifies nothing mere All London a desired 20
give was advertisement; and advertisement II gave.
liberal profu,ion, thus making smooth the way for the
formal American debut which was, last night accoT.
pllshcd.
1t l. instructive 10 consider what profound. potent
and passionate desire FOR expression is felt los many
persons At the present tir!e. and especially by
There great significance In this. philosophy could
ind ii ont Rightly understood and properly used, NE
rich IN blessings II might he thought that any human
being, reasonably talented and even moderately we'll
bestowed would be content rather to live than I" tax
about n,ng- to enjoy physical vitality AMI spiritual
aspiration without making publications on the subject
or asking other pccp'o 10 observe the spectacle Vet
in fact II is found that there very many human
creatures who cannot possibly get through this world
Withhold. maxim; some sort OF public statement about
their mental aud spiritual experience For most o'
person, the stage provides conseni. oui"t AMI
1 pc,,uAb.y practical avenue Of communication with
tho world All the other arts however. and most 81
what calcl the learned professions are more or '
i'm this process Of individual disclosure. It
seems To haze been designed, In the fabric of human
nature that deep ami widely ditnsci instinct II
EXPRESSION should compel the creation Of many form, ~
bcIuy which, rcactIns upon the human for g.,
advancement in true cyili1atinr-which s spiritual
growth-shouli thus tend 10 augment ts happiness hcr
and help to prepare II FOR higher life hereafter Tn
Al all events is the hopeful and preferable view OF io
subject for II this view bc not warranted human NE
in the realm would resolve ITSELF into the spec
ace " vanity posurng FOR tho applause NJ toy and
such AN cndeayor made last night by Mrs Pottr
together with the Of public inspection and chatter
which cnsed uron II, would be ncxpresbly frivo,ou,
Mr., Potter appeared Fuistne he B'csscr. 40
heroine OF a uicodraIna. which is dcScr ibc!
e emotional dramatic romance" The French or -nl
OF piece was made 10y " Albert Dclpt. upon the
OF Nile lie 1t brou. ht Las; spr.,-ar
the Ambicu Theatre In Paris. whcr" II fai!ci. Tie
In dish version OF IL, IN which Mrs Potter performs.
was prepared by Mr.. Herman MeriValc Lut since ~
prcsc't atom last June IN London AZ me 'alr Theatre
where IL fell somewhat na, II has been altered aud
AMENDED by another facle pen said 10 he that of NJ
tolls Wild tale .uppo,ititious :rench lie. beginning
in ,he muricrous DAY. u the COMMUNE that sAtlnaa
OF madness and rulianisnl-and ending seven years
later. The first half OF wa, found to Constitute ono
play and the seGo 3, sI Of , II aa@inSr H. 'G
the chief characters. It's rchemc IS remotely
derived from Ccrneil.rS tragedy OF Inc oh IL NAV
piece Rpdsrc Kills tie h'ther OF l mistress th"fn'
who Is nevertheless, COMMANDED by hmg tIptoHsD t.
whose mother finally commands him TO let that he no
j. iioui.cal With taat OF heiwel known passages IN
" ilcary VI" illustrative OF The horrors OF cvi. war;
rsutly Ae las struck down IA battle. and tue father
lanenis Tor TIE son whom. unwitunsy. lis own band
. T4is, briefly in the story Pt,ys R9soy rars3n
T@nro.se fosig Jand lis con. Jaoques Rosng
lad OF eighteen disabled 10y wound. and lie joined
iroops ~ Versailles Ia this mnrlrroGs COMPANY ac
assisted IN shooting General dc BlcSSier. father Of
lieutenant Ercssler" the q, nerAs son.
saved hy Faustne de Bressier." Presently the mob
wa> defeated and r'erTe hSSn!; nyns ior ms me-
s,onatc and wiling to this wretched man from iis
pmiscI tnlt this fugitive had been concerned in tin
murder her father and her brother she Suddenly re-
the hands u his enenies. hy whom hc was Immediately
and properly sAot TINS Is half the play ,..
time after this calamity" taustne IN deitrc,cc
10 the wish 81 her amcnted father. became the vie 81
W. lie ,,ucrsaiut.' man OF science but not ~ sent
mcnt, who Was much addicted Ia fOrci-n travel WIN
him she repaired 10 Algeria. where lie WAS Killed 10y \
Jealous Arab, and she became widow. Prior 10 ms
time she had met. aud fallen in love with. jacques
Roany." sculptor. the son )i tho Comnln'i ana 10
had fallen IN love with her AMI w0oCl her and Oefi
rcpul>od by her Now that she was nee however ht
back again IN Paris she Wa eager to accept the love 90
Young ROsny'; but III the absence Of al authentic
official certificate ot the death OF abe GncrSalnt bls
Arab murderer having thrown his body INTO the sea AMI
that xrd the French cOron.rl. there 'oht
he 10 marriIg -whereupon both jacques ana
" Faustiae" IN despair. At this juuctl.c. more
over the peculiar relation Of" Fsus'iae "a the shooting
her lovers father explained 10 all the p1itie,
and the lady. her CONSERVATION ana
XII ,vhr